Fire-escape



w. E. TURNER. FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I5. 1919- 1,316,604 I I PatentedSept. 23,1919.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH cm, WASHINGTON. n c.

W. E. TURNER.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-15.1919.

1 ,3 1 6,604.. Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

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v WILLIAM E. TURNER, or aoonnsrnn, NEW YORK.

Finn-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

Application filed January 15, 1919. Serial No. 271,273.

To all whom it may concern Be. it known that I, WILLIAM E. TURNER,

a'citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description Z escape in combination with automatic means i of the followingdescription.

for warning the occupants of the building upon the lowering of the ladder.

A- further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus ofthe character described, which is reliable, neat in appearance,"of highly simplified constructiomand easy to install in buildings.

Other objects and advantages of the .invention 'will be apparent during the course In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts'throughout the same, i

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a building showing my improved flexible ladder fire escape applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken through 'Fig. 1, showing the building and fire escape in section, a I

Fig. 3 is' a 'planvi'ew of a flexible ladder winding drum and associated elements,

Fig.4 isan enlarged detail sectional view through the upper portion of the building and fire escape, showing the flexible ladder being wound upon the drum,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of an operating arm engaging a portion of the continuous flexible ladder, and,

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a roller carried by the bottom of the flexible ladder.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred. em

bodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates a building of any type and having exits 11. A flexible ladder 12.is adapted to be lowered in proximity to the exit 11 upon the breaking out of a fire. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 the flexible ladder 12 is continuous and extends over a drum 13. The drum 13 is mounted upon standards 14 having alined bearings 15. A shaft 16 extending through the axis of the'drum 13 has its end portionsarranged in the bearings 16. The standards 14 are secured by bolts 17 to the roof or any convenient place in the upper portion of the building. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the drum 13 is provided with a pair of flanges 18 serving to retain the flexible ladder 12in its proper position. The body portion of the drum 13 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves 19 receiving the rungs 20 of the flexible ladder 12. i

The continuous ladder 12 extends through openings 21 in the parapet .22 of the building 10. It is obvious, however, that should the drum be mounted in one of the lower floors, the ladders will extend to suitable openings in the side wall of the building. A bracket 23 is secured to the outer side of the parapet byv bolts 24:. The bracket 23 carries a pair of spaced rollers 25 and 26 With reference to Figs. 1 and 2. it will be apparent that xit from the building is provided for the occupants by descending with the inner portion of the flexible ladder 12.. To provide means for causing the flexible ladder to'partake of a continuous moveinent as indicated in the arrows, I have provided a rela tively powerful electric motor 27. The electric motor has connectionwith a shaft 28 through a coupling 29. A worm 30 arranged on the shaft 28 engagesa worm gear 31 keyed to the shaft 16 of the drum 13. The forward end of the shaft extends through a bearing 32 formed on the upper end of a standard 33. Control wires 3&1 are attached to the electric motor 27 and are adapted to direct the operation of the same either in a forward or reverse direction.

When it is desired to wind the flexible ladder 12 upon the drum, both portions of the ladder are wound upon the drum as indicated in Fig. 4. A rod 35 rotatablysecured to the sid wall as at 35 carries a pair of obstructing arms 36. The arms 36 are adapted to be swung u wardly to engage one of the rungs 20 of t e portion of the ladder and thereby cause that portion ofthe ladder between the drum and the arms to fall upon the lower portion of the same.

l/Vith reference to ig. 4, it will be apparent that both sections of the ladder now are wound upon the drum in the direction indicated by the arrows. Upon the contacting of the adjacent rung 20 with the inner side of the arm, the arm will again fall to a non-operative position.

A suitable electric alarm system may be connected with the operating means for the fire escape to advise the occupants of the building upon the outbreak of a fire.

For the purpose of illustrating one form of automatic alarm, I have shown in Fig. 2, a vertically disposed shaft 36 journaled through a sleeve 37 secured to the inner wall 10 of the building. A bevel gear 38 is keyed to the upper end of the shaft 36 and meshes with a bevel gear 39' keyed to the forward end of the shaft 28. It will be apparent that the rotation of the shaft 28 likewise causes the rotation of the vertically disposed shaft 36. A collar 39 having internal screw thread's is arranged on the lower end of the shaft "36 and is adapted to be released therefrom upon the rotation of the same. The collar 39 is provided with a vertical slot 40 receiving a lug 41 to prevent the same from rotating with the shaft 36. Upon the removal of the collar 39 from the shaft the same engages a pair of contacts 42 and thus closes an electric circuit which operates a number of alarm bells in the building.

A suitable cover or hood 43 isarranged over the bracket 23 to protect the same from the elements and conceal the working elements ofthe invention. In cases where the motor and drum 19 are mounted upon the roof of a building, a suitable hood may be arranged over the same when not in use.

To provide means for drawing the flexible ladder away from the building in the "event of the flames coming close to the ladder, I have provided a roller generally designated by the numeral 44. As shown in Fig. 2, the

. roller 44. consists of a shaft 45 receiving a spool 46. The spool 46 is provided with eripheral 'rooves 46 for receiving the stiles of the flexib e ladder. The spool 46 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 45 and is adapted to be rotated with the flexible ladder. Arms 47 are carried by the outer ends of the shaft 45 and are provided with eyelets 48 in their free end portions thereof. Ropes or other suitable connecting elements are adapted to be secured to the arms 47 for drawing the spool 46 away from the building and thereby spacing the flexible ladder 12 a safe dislance from the flames. Bolts 49 have engagement with the outer ends of the shaft 1. A fire escape comprising, a continuous flexible ladder adapted to be extended for its greater length in proximity to the exit of a building; a drum arranged within the upper portion of the building and receiving said flexible ladder; means to operate said drum; a bracket carried by the outer side of said building; rollers carried by said bracket and adapted for spacing the upward and downward traveling portions of said flexible ladder; and arms carried by the inner side of-the wall of the building and adapted for contact with the rungs of said ladder for causing the same'to be wound upon the drum.

2. A fire escape including a' continuous flexible ladder adapted to be arranged for the greater portion of its :length adjacent the exit of a building, a drum receiving and suppoiting the flexible ladder,-means to rotate said drum, and a rod having a pair of arms adapted to contact with the rungs of the ladder for winding the ladder on the drum.

In testimony whereof I aflix my'signature in presence of two witnesses.-

WILLIAM E. TURNER.

Witnesses: r i

HENRY MEHSERLE, HARRIET R. SIrzENsTATTER.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner qt Patents,

Washington, D. Q." 

